It is the third time the Staffordshire-based official has taken charge of a Magpies' match this term, having overseen the 2-0 defeat away at Chelsea in September, followed by a 2-1 home reverse against Swansea in November.

On that afternoon at St. James' Park, Dowd booked four players including United's Davide Santon.

In total this season he has been appointed to 25 games across the Premier League, Championship, League One, FA Cup and Capital One Cup, issuing 88 yellow cards and three reds.

Dowd, aged 50, began refereeing in local leagues in 1984, and having worked his way up through the ranks, joined the Football League's full list of referees in 1997. He was promoted to the Premier League list in 2001, and took charge of his first top flight match in December that year as Fulham took on Everton.

On Saturday at White Hart Lane, Dowd's assistants will be Simon Long and Gary Beswick, with Lee Probert the game's fourth official.